In the spirit of Halloween, our team at Shook Dental Care wants to let you know about potential oral and overall health hazards that tend to often haunt people only in the darkness of night.
But fear not!
We’re also sharing how an oral appliance from our San Pedro, CA dental office can keep you safe!
3 Ways To Stay Safe This Halloween With A Nightguard
You don’t have to suffer the effects of scary conditions that lurk in the darkness of night to reign terror on your health or your smile.
Here are three ways you can stay safe this Halloween with a custom nightguard from Dr. Shook!
*Protect Your Health*
You’ve likely heard of sleep apnea, but what’s less known is how dangerous it is if left untreated.
That’s because it affects you while you’re sleeping. Granted, sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing for several seconds over and over again through the night, but that doesn’t mean you’ll know it’s happening. Your body’s survival instincts kick in during these repeated episodes, and you start breathing normally again and fall back asleep, but you may not be fully awake enough to recall them the next day.
If untreated, sleep apnea can cause:
*Heart disease and high blood pressure
*Weight gain
*Loud snoring
*Daily fatigue
*Increased irritability and depression
*Impaired focus and memory
*High risk for car accidents
Dr. Shook can help you avoid these health hazards with a custom nightguard that will keep your airways open. That way you’re able to breathe, and sleep, without disruption!
*Protect Your Jaw*
A common problem that affects your jaw is what’s called TMJ disorder, or TMD. Your TMJ is your temporomandibular joint, the hinge in your jaw just below the ears that connects to your skull allowing you to open and close your mouth.
The reason it’s fairly common is because your jaw joint is under constant stress. You use it all day everyday for your entire life. Naturally, all that work can lead to problems with your jaw alignment.
The good news is that a nightguard can help!
With a custom oral appliance that fits snugly and comfortably, much like an athletic mouthguard, you can keep the upper and lower jaw separated while you sleep and even, over time, allow your jaw to heal itself naturally.
*Protect Your Smile*
Another danger you could face while asleep is a damaged smile caused by teeth grinding. Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is a habit most people don’t know they have unless tipped off by their sleep partner or their dentist, who of course, can see the evidence during an oral exam. It’s not completely unheard of to grind your teeth or clench your jaw during the day, but even then in most cases, it’s involuntary, too.
The point is, teeth grinding can chip, crack, or wear down your teeth over time and threaten the health and appearance of your smile.
A nightguard can keep your upper and lower teeth from touching so you’re not putting pressure on them or damaging your enamel as a result.
Safeguard Your Smile Now!
Let a late-night horror flick keep you up at night this season, not the chronic conditions that can harm your oral and overall health we’ve talked about in today’s blog!
Get a custom nightguard from Dr. Shook in San Pedro, CA! Call Shook Dental Care today at 310-982-6333 or fill out our online form.